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10 Non-Financial Tips for Retiring Boomers
By
Michael A. Piekarz
Staff Writer
Many
of the more than 76 million baby boomers headed toward retirement
are losing sleep at night, and not because they’re worried
about having enough money to retire.
Instead, they’re wondering what they want to do with the rest of their
lives, according to Joan Carter, cofounder of Life Options Institute, an organization
devoted to helping people plan for life after age-50.
If you’re one of the millions of baby boomers contemplating retirement,
here are 10 tips from Ms. Carter:
1. Life’s about more than just money. Start thinking seriously about your
retirement about five years before you expect to quit the workforce.
2. Make life plans. It is important to plan for the non-financial aspect of retirement
by considering what will make you happy. Maybe you’ll climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
or go dog sledding in Alaska. Perhaps you’ll write the next great American
novel or even continue to work part-time. Make a life plan, and tick off your
experiences as you move ahead.
3. Find a purpose. Find something on an ongoing basis that provides you with
joy and structure to your life. This can involve travel, hobbies or even new
career training.
4. Keep sharp. You may feel the need to replace the intellectual stimulation
of work. If so, try learning a foreign language or musical instrument or joining
a retirement group that offers ongoing educational courses.
5. Volunteer. Getting involved with your community is a great way to give back,
as well as a wonderful opportunity to interact and meet new people.
6. Develop new friendships. A measurement of whether people have a successful
retirement is the strength of their social network — that includes family
and friends.
7. Spousal input. Retirement often means a shared experience. Therefore, make
time to share your dreams with your spouse — you might be pleasantly surprised
to learn that he/she wants to join you on that Mt. Kilimanjaro climb.
8. Remain healthy. There’s an old adage: “A lean horse for a long
race.” That means eating well, watching your weight and remaining active.
9. Financial stability. If you can’t afford to retire yet, consider partial
retirement — which can include working part-time in your current job or
finding something new and exciting from which you can earn some money.
10. What’s next in your life? Go to a helpful web site such as http://www.whatsnextinyourlife.com/to locate non-financial retirement planning tools.
This page and its contents ©2008
Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
